Jalen Brunson's Absence: A Deeper Look At The Knicks' Issues

Laila Abdi

5 min read

Post on May 16, 2025

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Offensive Struggles Without Brunson

Diminished Playmaking Ability

Jalen Brunson's absence immediately impacts the Knicks' offensive flow. He's the team's primary ball-handler and playmaker, and without him, the offense becomes stagnant.

• Decreased assist numbers: The team's assist totals plummet significantly when Brunson is sidelined, reflecting a lack of efficient ball movement.
• Forced shots: Players resort to more isolation plays, leading to inefficient shot selection and a lower field goal percentage.
• Reliance on isolation plays: The absence of Brunson's court vision forces players into one-on-one situations, often resulting in turnovers or low-percentage shots.
• Struggles in the half-court offense: The Knicks' half-court offense, already reliant on Brunson's pick-and-roll expertise, becomes significantly less effective, leading to scoring droughts.

The statistical decline is stark. For example, comparing games with and without Brunson reveals a substantial drop in assists per game (often by 5-7 assists), a decrease in team field goal percentage, and a considerable increase in turnovers. This directly impacts the scoring output of players like RJ Barrett and Julius Randle, who thrive on Brunson's ability to create scoring opportunities.

Scoring Drought and Inefficient Offense

The impact of Jalen Brunson's absence extends beyond playmaking. The Knicks experience a noticeable scoring drought and overall offensive inefficiency.

• Lower points per game: The team's points per game average drops considerably.
• Decreased shooting percentages: The team's overall shooting percentages, both from the field and from three-point range, suffer dramatically.
• Increased turnovers: The lack of a steady ball-handler leads to more turnovers, giving opponents easy transition opportunities.
• Struggles against strong defensive teams: The Knicks' offensive limitations become even more pronounced against teams with strong defensive schemes.

The resulting decrease in offensive rating is a clear indicator of the team's offensive struggles in Brunson's absence. The team's offensive efficiency, measured by points per 100 possessions, significantly declines, highlighting the crucial role Brunson plays in the team's offensive strategy.

Defensive Vulnerability

Impact on Defensive Pressure

Jalen Brunson's contributions extend beyond offense; he's a tenacious defender who impacts the Knicks' defensive intensity. His absence creates a significant defensive vulnerability.

• Increased opponent scoring: The opposing team scores considerably more points when Brunson is out.
• Higher opponent field goal percentages: Opponents shoot at a higher percentage against the Knicks without Brunson's defensive pressure.
• Struggles containing opposing guards: The absence of Brunson leaves a gap in guarding opposing point guards, often leading to mismatches and easy scoring opportunities.
• Issues in transition defense: The lack of Brunson's defensive intensity and quickness negatively impacts the Knicks' transition defense.

Observing games where Brunson missed time shows a clear pattern: opponents exploit the defensive gaps, particularly against quicker guards. The defensive rating, which measures points allowed per 100 possessions, noticeably worsens, illustrating the significant impact of Brunson's absence on the defensive end.

Increased Reliance on Other Players

The burden of compensating for Brunson's absence falls on other players, but they often struggle to replicate his defensive contributions.

• Increased burden on other guards: Other guards like Immanuel Quickley and Quentin Grimes are forced to shoulder more defensive responsibility, often leading to fatigue and decreased effectiveness.
• Potential defensive mismatches: The Knicks are vulnerable to mismatches due to the lack of Brunson's defensive capabilities at the guard position.
• Inability to replicate Brunson’s defensive intensity and tenacity: No other player on the roster possesses Brunson's same defensive grit and intensity, leaving a significant void.

The coaching staff has tried various adjustments, but finding a suitable replacement for Brunson's defensive contributions proves challenging. This highlights the need for strengthening the defensive depth of the team.

The Need for Roster Adjustments

Addressing Offensive Playmaking

To improve the Knicks' offensive flow during Brunson's absence, several adjustments are necessary:

• Exploring different offensive strategies: The Knicks need to diversify their offensive schemes to rely less heavily on Brunson’s individual playmaking.
• Improving ball movement: The team needs to prioritize ball movement and create more scoring opportunities through team play rather than relying solely on individual efforts.
• Developing secondary playmakers: Nurturing the playmaking skills of other players on the roster is crucial for creating a more balanced offensive approach.
• Potential trade acquisitions: Acquiring a player with strong playmaking abilities could significantly enhance the team's offensive capabilities when Brunson is injured or unavailable.

Investing in a capable backup point guard who can provide similar playmaking skills would be a beneficial solution.

Strengthening Defensive Depth

Improving the Knicks' defense when Brunson is out requires a multi-pronged approach:

• Improving defensive rotations: Refining the team's defensive rotations to better cover for defensive lapses is essential.
• Better communication on defense: Enhanced communication among players could help improve the team's overall defensive coordination.
• Acquiring defensive-minded players: Adding players with strong defensive skills to the roster is a necessary step to bolster the team's defense.
• Improving individual defensive skills: Focusing on the individual defensive training of current players could improve the team's defensive performance.

Strengthening the team's defensive depth is crucial, not just for when Brunson is unavailable, but also for overall team success.

Conclusion

Jalen Brunson's absence significantly impacts the Knicks' offense and defense, exposing weaknesses in playmaking, scoring, and defensive intensity. His value to the team is undeniable, and the Knicks must address these vulnerabilities. Key takeaways include the urgent need for improved offensive strategies, development of secondary playmakers, and a significant bolstering of the team's defensive depth. The team's performance during Jalen Brunson's absence underscores the critical need for strategic adjustments and potential roster changes to ensure consistent competitiveness. What are your thoughts on the Knicks' struggles during Jalen Brunson's absence? Share your analysis and predictions in the comments section below!